honk honk, rattle rattle

Dave sold his beloved 1979 Mercedes Benz about a year ago. I strongly encouraged him to do it, because we live in the city, I don't drive to work (so my Outback was parked at home all day), and whenever he started the ignition, the fine white mobile coughed out a black cloud of exhaust like an old bingo player. It was a cute car with a chrome bumper and 250,00 miles on it, and was paid for, but at the time it seemed unnecessary to sustain two sets of wheels. Plus I thought we could be more 'green' and economical.

Well, fast forward to today. We both have our extra-curricular interests (me: Crossfit, yoga, shopping; Dave: softball in Bellevue, softball in Seattle, cribbage matches, and the occasional gym excursion). Last week our schedules came to a head when I realized I couldn't have the car because Dave needed it in Renton. The conversation concluded, as it sometimes does, as a regretful acknowledgment that "We shouldn't have sold the Benz".

I concede. Maybe we shouldn't have sold it, but what to do now? We don't want to buy a car, or to sustain another ongoing expense. Our Subaru has been having engine problems and was diagnosed with a faulty head gasket, which basically means it'll die a slow death. At least that's what I gleaned from our Asian mechanic with a heavy accent. He might've said it just needs wiper fluid...

After stewing in contempt for lack of my own car, I considered our options. Lease a Kia for dirt cheap? Sign up for Zipcar for those days when we really both need to get somewhere? Sell the Subaru while we can still get some money for it? Dave and I decided that getting another car right now isn't in the cards. But we did decide on a much better solution- a calendar!

How does a calendar solve the need for a car? Our issue can be solved by improved schedule coordination and flexibility. We both know what's on our own agendas, but we don't consistently inform each other of the week's events. A little foresight+ a dash of flexibility =a lot less annoyance at the 11th hour. So this weekend we bought a calendar (tough in the middle of the year), haung it on the kitchen wall, and wrote down our upcoming events. Let's hope we stick with it.

And ask me what having one car is like once Little Kitzman arrives.

Pre-baby livin'

Our new pad is slowly coming together. Our weekends have been intense, and it seems that we have plans or to-do lists seeping into every available time slot. And yes I still have boxes to unpack. But the good news is we scored two sweet pieces of furniture this weekend and made some headway on home projects. One piece of furniture- a dresser for the nursery- was free, thanks to my keen eye while cruising around the neighborhood. The other, a solid wood wardrobe, was seriously underpriced by a nice rich man over in Medina (you know, where Bill Gates lives). Now we can kiss those packed boxes good-bye....when I have the energy and inclination to do it.

I'm almost 8 months pregnant and I gotta say, I'm feeling it. Some noticeable side effects include disinterest in making dinner, increased interest in the couch, and eager willingness to take a bus seat when offered (which is surprisingly rare; is it a West Coast thing? Or just a modern lack of chivalry? I'm surprised).

We started our birth and parenting classes this week. They take place in our hospital basement all Saturday morning for four weeks. Topics include: how to not be a hormonal wench, how to breathe deeply, how your partner can help (in labor and in general), things to avoid while pregnant and/or breastfeeding (pot brownies, gymnastics, etc), and how to bathe, feed, and swaddle your baby. I think the class will be useful. Maybe we'll even meet some new parent-friends.

In addition to home projects and weekend classes, Dave and I are trying to squeeze in some pre-baby summer plans, including a trip with friends to the Methow Valley and a weekend getaway to the Kitzman cabin (if I'm still in good spirits and not a miserable blimp). Every month that passes and I'm still on good terms with pregnancy feels like a victory. Two more to go.

Life's Essentials

Whew, it's been a crazy few weeks. Dave and I were consumed with the move, and before that my mom was in town. When she arrived she looked around our condo, two weeks before moving day, and wondered where our boxes were and why all the books were still on shelves. We shrugged and chalked it up to being in denial. Neither of us wanted to move. So while Dave and I were at work, my mom packed up our home. She cleaned, she cooked homemade sauce, she took me shopping for curtains. She didn't ask much of us. She rules.

The move went better than expected. We got lots of help from friends and family, lifting antique 200-lb dressers, unpacking our kitchen, and cleaning out our former place. I really had to bow out of this one, and so many people stepped up to the plate. Now we are happily settling into our new digs.

Speaking of stepping up to the plate, we are temporarily without internet service. It's good in a way. I've never watched so much baseball in my life ('cause you know we got our cable service with MLB channel hooked up STAT). What do you want to know about Franklin Gutierrez' batting average? I'll tell you. On the other hand, I straight up miss internet and feel like I've been marooned. While we patiently wait for service, Dave's been parking the car in front of our neighborhood coffee shop before work to "borrow" their WiFi. But I ain't one to gossip so ain't heard that from me!

I've been methodically unpacking one box a night. Pregnancy makes unpacking clothes easy. I basically only wear three shirts, two pants and a few other essential items. You could make an SAT permutation question about my outfit possibilities. Anyway, we don't have a closet in our room, so anything that requires hangers are packed up until we purchase some type of clothing rod. We really need a closet.

It's become clear that we also cannot live without a microwave. I have some friends who can do without. We, however, have agreed that we're microwave people. Yeah, we're not above Trader Joe's microwaveable burritos. I laughed out loud when I read the oven-directions: 40 minutes at 350. I might as well make dinner.

I've also been strategically keeping non-essentials boxed up. My goal is to keep them stored through the year. It's pretty cool to see how much you can live without. And it'll make our next move that much easier.

In conclusion, things we can't live without: Moms, internet, microwaves, and closets. All in due time.